Commentary on: FagerströmC, PalmqvistR, CarlssonJ, et al. Malnutrition and cognitive impairment among people 60 years of age and above living in regular housing and in special housing
in Sweden: a population-based cohort study.Int J Nurs Stud2011;48(7):863–71.

Implications for research and practice

Implications for nursing practice of this research:

■ Malnutrition is not restricted to institutionalised older people with cognitive impairment. Those with cognitive impairment
living in regular housing also have an increased risk of malnutrition.

■ Impaired cognitive ability rather than impaired functional ability is associated with malnutrition regardless of housing and
living arrangement.

■ Moderate or severe cognitive impairment is associated with malnutrition rather than mild cognitive impairment.